I'm probably just being an uncritical Beatles fan here, but there's something magical about "Hey Jude" that the video makes clear. It starts off as that sloppy sentimental stuff that McCartney is so great/horrible at, and then turns into a silly campfire sing-along, surrounded by all these rapturous young people. And at a time when the band really weren't getting along. Indeed, in spite of being inspired by Paul's concern for Julian Lennon, the song can be appreciated as a reflection of the fact that everyone was being pulled away from each other at the time, but that, true to their optimism, it'll still be alright. It's not in my ten favourite Beatles songs, but it's still gorgeous.

I'm probably just being an uncritical Beatles fan here, but there's something magical about "Hey Jude" that the video makes clear. It starts off as that sloppy sentimental stuff that McCartney is so great/horrible at, and then turns into a silly campfire sing-along, surrounded by all these rapturous young people. And at a time when the band really weren't getting along. Indeed, in spite of being inspired by Paul's concern for Julian Lennon, the song can be appreciated as a reflection of the fact that everyone was being pulled away from each other at the time, but that, true to their optimism, it'll still be alright. It's not in my ten favourite Beatles songs, but it's still gorgeous.

I like the fact that Macca swears after hitting the wrong key at the end of the song and Lennon insisted it stayed on the track just buried in the mix.

I like the fact that Macca swears after hitting the wrong key at the end of the song and Lennon insisted it stayed on the track just buried in the mix.

Similarly, when Paul said that the "movement on your shoulder" was a bit of a placeholder line, that it was weak (something about sounding like there was a parrot) and he'd fix it later, John said it was perfect. John had a better ear for imperfections that nevertheless worked.